Ignition apparatus for hydrocarbon-engines.



A. LOUMIS.

IGNrrxoN APPARATUS Pon HYDBocABnoN ENGINES.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 11110.27, 1907.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

A. LMIS.

IGNITION APPARATUS Foa IIYnNooAnBoN ENGINES.

KPPLICATI-ON FILED DEO. 27. 1907. 1,01 1,977, Patented Dea 19,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LLLEN LOOMIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY' MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

IGNITION APPARATUS FOR HYDROCARBON-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN Loomis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of il'lichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l iiition A pa- 'ratus for H vdrocarbon-Engines, of wiieh thc'folloiving is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the ignition apparatus of multiple cylinder hydrocarbon engines for motor vehicles. Its objects are to provide neat, convenient and compact means for housing and supporting the high tension conductors which supply current to the `various spark plugsl of the engine cylinders. To this end I employ a sin-4 glc tube for containing all of the conducting wires and provide convenient means for leading oft' the current from ,the variouswires to the spark plug.

The invention will be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cyinders of a four cylinder engine showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a section on the line. 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail partly in section shovi'ng a spark plug having my novel supporting means in proper position adjacent thereto; Figs. 4, 5. and ('i are enlarged det-ail views of the housing, terminal and switch; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of a modification; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the terminal which receives the end of a conducting wire. y

In the drawings 1, 2 indicate two cylinder casings each comprising a pair of cylinders of a four cylinder hydrocarbon engine.

3 rt-.prescntsone of the pistons, 4 a connecting rod, 5 an exhaust valve, and 6 an inlet valve for the explosive mixture.

A magneto 7 suitably geared to be run by lthe engincsupplie's current for the ignition devices. The low tension current passes through a conductor 8 to a coil or transfo1'i'rier in boi( 9and theI high tension currentrpasses through a conductor 10 to a distributor 11 driven by the engine, by means of which it is distributed to the several cylindersiand' the sparks properly timed. '.Ihe current from the distributor passes to the cylinders through conductors l2 to 151inclusi ve. The high and low tension circuits are completed through a ground wire lf'i Speclcatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application tiled December 27, 1907. Serial No. 408,231.

which connects the coil with the engine or other part of the machinery. The conducting wires above mentioned are insulated and all of them pass into a tube 17 which extends over the engine cylinders in proximity to the spark plu and thus these wires are supported out o sight and in a very small space. The tube 1 7 may rest on the engine clyinders or may be supported in any suitable way. Opposite each spark plug the tube or housing 17 is provided with an opening surrounded by the screw threaded collar 18 formed integral with the tube. A holder 19 is secured to the collar 18 and this holder is preferably cylindrical in forni and composed of insulating material such as hard rubber. In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the outer surface of the holder is otlset near its upper end forming a shoulder 20- upon which rests the split ring 21, the ends of which are adapted to be clamped together by a bolt 22 which binds the ring firmly upon the holder. 'lhis ring has perforated cars 23, 24 which extend upwardly and inwardly from the ring to form supports for the switch arm as hereafter described. The interior of the holder 19 is substantially cylindrical in. shape and receives a terminal member 25 which makes Contact with one of the conductors and which has upon its upper end an eye bolt 2G which has its opening in line with the openings in the ears 23, 24. A

vknife switch 27 has its two blades secured between the. eye bolt 26 and the ears 23, 24 by the bolt 28 passing through the parts. As shown in Fig. 3 the housing and holder are in such position that the switch 27 is ada ited to be brought down upon the ends of t ie spark plug 29 so as to complete the electrical connection between the conductor and the plug.

The forni of the holder and terminal shown in Fig. 7 is slightly ditferent-fromthat of Fig. `4 in that the terminal here is composed of an outer cylindricalV portion having a circumfi 'ential [lange 30 near its bottom to enga e a shoulder 31 formed on the interior of t e holder 19,and this tube is also provided with screw threads 32 near its upper end.` A nut 33, is adapted to 'be screwed on the. threads 32, and a. disk 34 is placed around said tube below the nut. and is clamped between that nut and the to .pf the holder 19. '.lliis disk, aslsliown 8, has sideears 35, 36 which are bentup over the top of the terminal and into positionl conducting material 'tits within the upiei ed art of the tube, and this core is provi with a central screw threaded opening which iS preferably made of two diameters and the lower end of which is tapered as shown at 38. The opening through the tapered portion 38 is made of proper 'size to receive the.- eiid wires 39 of one of the conductors and itY will be noted that the casing 41 is'preferably of such size that the end o f one of the conductors including the insulation thereon will fit within it. A short pointed screw is inserted in the central opening of the core 37 and as shown operates to spread the ends of the wires composing the conductor 39 and hold them in close contact with the inclined surface 38 thus making good electric.l connectioh between 'the conductor 39 and the core 37.' The eye bolt 2G is screwed into the upper end of t-hc core and therefore makes' electrical connection therewith.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. In an ignition system for hydrocarbon engines for motor vehicles, the combination with a lurality of'eiiginc cylinders, (if a spark plliig on cach cylinder, a plurality of separate insulated conductors, a tube con taining said conductors passing in proximity .to said spark plugs and having :iii opening opposite each plug, a holder secured to said tube at each of said openings2 a terminal nicniber within each holder making electrical contact with one of the conductors, and pivotcd switch arms supportcd'by said holders in position to make contact with the spark plugs thereby making electrical conncction between the terminals and plugs.

2. In an ignition system for hydrocarbon engines for motor ve iicles, the combination with a plurality of engiie. cylinders, of ii.

spark plug 'on each cylinder, a plurality of, separate insulated conductors, a tube containing mid-conductors passing in proxiinity lo said spark plugs and having an openingop insite each plug, a holder secured to said tu ic at each of said openings, a terminal member within each holder mak; ing electrical contact with one of the Icon iluclurs, uli eye liiiltLSLclllLd in Suid terminal nionilwr and valenjding above the to of tho holder, a supporting ring secure to said holder and having perforated eai's exfo; lending upon the sides of said eye bolt, and

a knlif switch secured between said ears and eye o t 1n ositionto en a e a ark lu 3. In an ipgnition s steril ger lisyidrocalibogn engines for m'otor ve icles, the combination with a lurality of Aengine cylinders, of a spark p ug on each cylinder, a plurality of separate insulated conductors, a tubecontaining said conductprs passing in prox- -imity to said spark plugs and having an openin opposite each plug, a holder secured to sai tu e at. each of said openings, a v4terminalmember wit-hin eachholder malcing electrical contact with one of the conductois, an extension flrom said terminal iiieinliei" projecting above the holder and having a hole therethrough, a ring secured to the holder and having perforated ears extending up b y the side of said extension, and a' knife switch pivotally secured to said ears and extension. Y y.

4. In an ignition s stem for hydrocarbon engines for motor veliicl'es, the combination Awith a plurality of engine cylinders, of a. lplurality ofseparate insulated conductors, a tube containing said conductors passing in proximity tio'saicl-t cylinders the said tube eing provided with an opening op osite each cylinder, a holder secured to said) tube over each opening, a terminal 4member within each' holder, switches secured to said' holders having` electrical connection with said',terininal members.

5. I'n an igniti n system for hydrocarbon engines for inotomicles, the combination with a plurality o nvine cylinders, of a plurality of separate in ilated conductors, 'a tube containing said con lucters passing in proximity to saideylinde `tlie said tube being provided with an op iiiig opposite each cylinder and with a sci w-tlireaded collar foreach opening, a ser w-tlireiided holder engaging each of said llai's, a terminal iiiriiibei'ivitliin each holde and means for securing a conductor to eac i of said terminal members.

(i. In an ignition system f r hydrocarbon engines -for motor vehicles, lie combination with engine cylinders pro ided with spark plugs, of a tube placedi'n proximity to said plugs and havngopenings adjacent thereto, conductors within said tube, a holder se cured over tli'e'said openings in the tube. a conducting corel within said holder having an opening therethrough adapted'to'receive thcend ofoneot-tlie conductors, means for stx-.uring'the endof a conductor in the lower endof said opening, and an extension of said terminal secured in the upper end of said opening and projecting above the top -of the lioldc'r.

- 7. ln an ignition system fo ',liydrocarbon engines for motor re iieles, t e combination willi engine cylinders provided willi spark plugs, of a tube placed in proximity to said plugs and haring openings adjacent thereto,

iziii conductors .within said tube, a holder sein said tube, a. tubular easing within said cured over each opening in the tube, a cylin holder having an inturned flange at the top, dricalv conducting core within said holder a conducting core fittn within the upper 20 having a lon ltudinal screw-threaded openpart of said easing and having a central 5 ing throu 'h ifg. center which opening is tascrew-threaded opening therethrough with ered at ve rbottom to e size to fit the cona. contracted lower end, a pointed screw fituctor, n. short pointed screw fitting in said ting in said opening and adapted to ap- .opening and engaging the end' of the eonproaeh the contracted portion thereof, and 25 ductor, and a screw-threaded eye bolt sean eye bolt screwed into the upper part of' 1o cured in the upper end of seidopening andi the opening and projecting above the top of projecting above the holder. the tubular easing.

8. In an ignition systemfor hydrocarbon In testimony 'whereof I alix my signature engines for motor ve icles, the combination in presence of two Witnesses.

with engine cylinder's, of a, tube adapted to ALLEN LOOMIS. 15. contain conductors adjacent said cylinders Witnesses:

and havingopenings therein, a holder MILTON Tln'rrs,

adapted to be secured over each opening L. C. TENNEY. 

